Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-07-15
FRIDAY MORNING. JULY, Is. 1876
"BALANCED no A CENT?

FRIDAY MORNING. JULY, Is. 1887
BALANCED TO A CENT"
One of the favorite arguments by the
Republican orators in the last campaign
in Virginia was something after this style:
'The Democrats said the government was
honey-combed with corruption and cried
out to balance the books. Well, they did
balance the books and they balanced to a
cent. The Democrats said the Treasury
had been robbed. and said wait till the
money is counted. Well, the money was
counted and behold every cent was therel'
While it was a triumphant announce
ment to the Republicans it was also a
comforting announcement to every DEM
ocrat W Avas not such partizan so
strong as to desire the disgrace of the OPP
posite party, even at-the expense of the
good name of the American people.
But last week piece of rascalitY came
to light that showed that while 1.-THE books
were balanced" and came out right, they
were balanced by the men who kept them,
and so balanced in some cases as to con-
coed some very questionable book-keep-
ing. The acknowledged rascal in this
case seems to have quite prominent places.
He was Chief of Division of Horse Claims
in the Third Auditors Office, and, later,
Chief of Division in the Second
Comptroller's Office. The details of
how be happened to hold two such
prominent places, both of them under a
Democratic Administration, though the
sppointee is a Republicans rather in
structiye to the general reader in the
methods of appointments at Washington,
and to the thoughtful way suggestive Of a
Grand Noble Order of Office Holders with
a combination to keep themselves in all
the offices.
In the summer of 1885, few weeks af-
ter Mr.. Cleveland's administration took
hold, Mr.. Smith, the then Republican
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, made
request that former college mate (mark
the only reason for the rascal's appoint
ment) named o. J. Harvey, a prominent
Pennsylvania Republican. The Hon.
Samuel J. Randall and Gov. Curtin, two
Democratic representatives from that
State, went to Secretary Manning and
protested against the appointment. The
Secretary told Assistant Secretary Smith
of the protest and requested him to try
and explain away the objections to the
two Pennsylvania Democratic representa-.
tives in person. Whatever may have been
said to these two Pennsylvanians, they
did withdraw their objections and the Re-
publican "college mate'' thief got high
place in the Treasury Department by ap-
pointment of Democratic Secretary Mann.
E ing and the consent of the other two prom
inent Democrats. In this place he served
himself faithfully-foistlng $4,000 worth
of forged horse claims on the government
He was probably estates right Repub-
licaE and took care of his State, nearly all
the forged claims being for Pennsylvania
officers and her near neighbor, New Jersey.
This little incident ought to show the
President the value Of changes in Office
for nothing exposed this fraud but the
removal of the offender from one position
to another, and a new and honest head
taking charge of t he forger's books. We
are civil service and we believe that this
new rule, added to the service, Of exam
lining the qualifications Of men already in
Office, as statutory addition. But we all
know that with any sort Of political party
long reign breeds corruption, and we all
know besides that the popular feeling in
the Union now that this administration
is keeping the old Office holders in too
long, unless he intends to have their
''books balanced" by experts who are not
the keepers of the books they are balanc-
ing. This Administration is Democrat
ic one, but it can and shall justly be held
to accountability for this Horse claim
There is no reason to know; there is no
way it can be known of how much Of this
thing is going on to-day, and if the Presi-
dent-the only one who has the power--does
not exercise it in the right direction. or
exercise it at all, the public will lose con-
hdence in the fruition Of the reform they
expected. We want the civil service car
raid out faithfully, and either Democratic
or Republican clerks who can pass, to 60
into Office, but we will never see it if hard
asa rock solidity is maintained in the
clerkships at Washington. No examina-
ton of their books; nobody to overlook
and enquire into their work, save their
old chums they have been working with
or under for years, what are we to expect.